Years ago I would make glass tanks with wooden bottoms. I used arborite glued on with non toxic rubber cement for the bottom panel. None of the tanks built this way ever failed. Has anyone tried this on a big tank? The reason I’m asking I found a 280 gallon tank but the bottom panel is cracked. What are your thoughts?
Arborite for the bottom of a tank?
- Thread starter Big Dave
- Start date
I've seen a few "plywood bottom" builds over the years. They often have a lip treatment around the bottom to brace the glass there since epoxy on wood does not create a sufficient bond with silicone to hold the panels of a large tank together.
Set a welded L-bar/angle iron frame around the glass & timber. Seal it together with 5200 - glass doesn't really stick with 5200, but the metal will be doing the structural work. Weld flat-bar across to hold the water-weight, then you won't need such thick ply.
Alt & easier, don't screw with it - get a piece of 3/8" glass & silicone to cover & reinforce the crack. Might even get away with 1/4" if you're not putting the tank in a carpeted room.
Alt & easier, don't screw with it - get a piece of 3/8" glass & silicone to cover & reinforce the crack. Might even get away with 1/4" if you're not putting the tank in a carpeted room.